Super Rugby: Hard-fought victory for Highlanders over the Crusaders in Timaru
The Highlanders outclassed the Crusaders in Timaru by 26-18 in a Super Rugby clash played this evening, 23rd April. It was a hard-fought victory for the Highlanders to overcome the New Zealand’s best derby. They grabbed their seventh victory in
the ongoing championship in nine outgoings with the brilliant performances from Tony Brown and Paterson.
Highlanders started off the game without their three key players, Adam Thompon and Sean Treeby, due to their respective injuries. Whereas the Crusaders were deprived of All Blacks’ versatile star, Richie McCaw, and they rested Kieran Read for this competition.
The clash was underway with Tony Brown’s touch and Crusaders won the first penalty early in the second minute of the play and Berquist made it 3-0 for his side.
The opening five minutes of the clash set a balmy tone of the contest as desperate efforts were made by both sides. The Highlanders leveled the score with Brown scoring on penalty. The Highlanders progressed in to the first half of the play quite nicely
and they were dominating the Crusaders.
They ended up the first part of the play with a two-point lead over the New Lander rivals. The equation was favouring them by 15-13 at the interval and they increased it to 20-13 right after the break.
The Crusaders were looking very good, running with the ball, and they were getting over the gain line every time they touched the ball. They conceded 9 penalties until the 66th minute of the match whereas the Highlanders were quite careful in
this regard as they received just three penalties in the same span of time.
The crusaders tried to bounce back in the match with Whitelock and Sonny Bill Williams’ help. They managed to reduce the deficit to 18-20 but could not build a winning momentum in the competition. The Crusaders missed many chances during the early moments
of the game that had paid back in their first ever defeat by the Highlander on their own turf.
They tried their best to score during the ending moments but the Highlanders’ flawless defense denied them every time. The final whistle made the Highlanders jubilant and they grabbed a much deserved victory.
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